Spoiler Alert for Yellowstone season 5.While the final outing ofYellowstoneultimately delivered a great story with an inspiring end for the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and the Broken Rock Tribe, season 5 underused a few key characters. SomeYellowstoneseason 5 characterslike Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) received a significant amount of time in the spotlight after John Dutton III’s (Kevin Costner) divisiveYellowstonefate, with the death of Beth and Kayce’s father pushing their story forward.
Other characters were reduced to stringent roles, especially inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, as the character’s connections to the show’s heartbeat suffered after John Dutton III’s death. Taylor Sheridan’s ignorance of vitalYellowstonecharacters didn’t go unnoticed, with the argument that the franchise’s most outstanding characters deserved better. Ignored players were previously at the center of the plot as they supported John Dutton, and their place in the narrative faltered after his exit.
5Jamie
Wes Bentley
Jamie Dutton was barely shown in the final episodes of the series, with criticism thatWes Bentley deserved better inYellowstoneseason 5. Despite the neo-Western story building the conflict between the siblings from the earliest moments ofYellowstoneseason 1,Jamie and Beth’s showdown occurred briefly in the final episode.In retrospect, the siblings only had two proper scenes together in season 5, part 2. Jamie is present when Beth threatens him and when she carries through with it.
Jamie only appears a handful of times to discuss his career, such as when he consults his son’s mother, Christina (Katherine Cunningham), about how to reverse his political downfall.
Jamie’s appearances outside his conflict with Beth are limited, considering how involved the adopted brother has been in the story. Jamie only appears a handful of times to discuss his career, such as when he consults his former partner, Christina (Katherine Cunningham), about how to reverse his political downfall. While we see Jamie’s life unravel after Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) hires Grant Horton (Matt Gerald) to murder John Dutton, his most personal developments are unexplored.
4Tate
Brecken Merrill
Despite his connection to theYellowstone1883prophecy, Tate’s lack of utilization inYellowstoneseason 5 makes sense because John Dutton’s death drastically affected his grandson. Throughout all five seasons ofYellowstone,Tate has the most interesting stories when he is alongside John III. For instance, when Tate is kidnapped from the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch to punish the family, the seventh-generation Dutton is shown moments before having a fun evening with his grandpa.
The Yellowstone Season 5 Finale Missed An Opportunity To Highlight Tate’s Importance
Yellowstone failed to highlight Tate’s important place in the Dutton family tree, which was integral to understanding the Dutton Ranch’s final fate.
Yellowstoneseason 1 introduces Tate because John Dutton wants to get to know him better. The grandfather and grandson eventually develop a bond over fishing, which the pair revisits throughout the series. However, after John dies inYellowstone,Tate is reduced to boring conversations with his parents or discussions with Kayce, where the son is utilized as a sounding board for his father’s essential decisions, despiteKayce’s visions inYellowstoneseason 4ultimately guiding his path.
3Rip
Cole Hauser
While he has some good moments in the final season, one could argue thatRip Wheeler was underutilized inYellowstoneseason 5, especially after John III’s death. Rip took care of John’s most essential dirty work and is consistently at his side to make critical decisions. After Costner’s exit, Rip lost his most important role as John’s right hand. Moreover, Rip’s friendship withTaylor Sheridan’s divisiveYellowstonecharacter, Travis Wheatley, is a strained replacement for his connection to John.
Dutton Ranch: Cast, Story & Everything We Know About The Yellowstone Spinoff
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe is continuing to grow with the announcement of a spinoff that centers on Beth and Rip.
Beth and Rip’s chemistry is so good the characters will star in aYellowstonespinoff. Still, Rip’s story is more enjoyable with John III in the mix. In the finalYellowstoneepisodes, Rip had fewer interesting things to do as his duties changed from protecting the ranch with John Dutton to helping his wife sell off its assets to save it. Rip’s most meaningful scene arguably still happens alongside Costner’s character whenRip buries John Dutton himself in theYellowstoneseason 5 finale.
2Monica
Kelsey Asbille
After her son’shorrific death in theYellowstoneseason 5 premiereand the resolution she seeks with her husband, Mo Brings Plenty, and Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), Monica’s role tapers off in the outing. A lackluster conclusion follows Monica’s robust story in the first half of season 5. While what happens with Kayce’s story and his freedom is profound, Monica doesn’t get a proper ending outside of her husband. Like Tate, many of Monica’s stories inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, are anchored to Kayce.
Monica (and Tate, for that matter) could have joined at the end ofYellowstonewhen her people reclaimed the ranch, representing her importance to both parties.
Yellowstoneseason 5 could have served Monica better in the final outing episodes by showing Asbille’s character processing her husband’s decision and what it meant to her. Monica is a member of the Broken Rock Tribe, which gains stewardship of the Dutton family’s heirloom ranch inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 14. Monica (and Tate, for that matter) could have joined at the end ofYellowstonewhen her people reclaimed the ranch, representing her importance to both parties.
1Gator
Gabriel Guilbeau
Last but certainly not least, we barely hear from Gabriel Guilbeau’s talented chef, “Gator,” in the final episodes ofYellowstoneseason 5. Most notably,Gator doesn’t attend John Dutton III’s funeral in theYellowstonefinale,despite being at the ranch to cook everyone a proper meal afterward. While Gator explains his absence by saying he doesn’t like goodbyes, we don’t get to watch Gator process the massive changes in his life or explain what comes next, regardless of attending John III’s ceremony.
1 Key Yellowstone Character Was Missing From John Dutton III’s Funeral
Considering their bond in Taylor Sheridan’s show, it’s a shame that Yellowstone season 5 didn’t include this character in John Dutton III’s funeral.
Stories of beloved side characters like Gator and main characters like Jamie fell to the wayside as the final season scrambled to wrap up after John Dutton’s controversial death. IfYellowstoneseason 5 could have dispersed its time a bit better, we could have heard what was next for Gator, like how we heard aboutwhat happened to every cowboy in theYellowstoneseason finale. Sadly,Yellowstoneseason 5 missed that opportunity, but the talented chef surely found an exciting new beginning after leaving the ranch.
